J. R. Tomlinson is the only Tomlinson head of household in the 1860 census of Falls County Texas. He has two son who would have been of military age during the Civil War, James E. age 17 and William age 15. The TXGENWEB Falls County website indicates that both James and William were in Company B 5th. Texas Cavalry. Neither James or William were in the original muster rolls for Company B, so they must have enlisted after the 5th. Cavalry returned to Texas from Sibley's New Mexico Campaign. James survived the war, however William was killed at the Battle of Yellow Bayou La. in 1864. John Watkins of Falls County, who was also in Company B of the 5th. Texas Cavalry, wrote letters to his wife back in Texas during the war. From a letter dated May 19th, 1864 Watkins writes this about the Battle of Yellow Bayou,"But alas, we lost some brave men-Wm. Tomlinson was killed in the reteat....Wm. Tomlinson lived to be taken off the field. He said that he did not want his friends to think he was a coward because he was shot in the back-He was a brave and noble boy loved by all who knew him-I know his death will nearly kill his parents but such is the fate of some of our soldiers- and it seems that the best men always go first." This passage is from THE MARLIN COMPOUND - LETTERS OF A SINGULAR FAMILY by Frank Calvert Oltorf. William Tomlinson RIP Memorial Day 2007 Bill Mccue